Top 4 players who had the opportunity to play for Italy but didn't

The Italian football team is enduring one of its worst times in its rich history of footballing success. It is a team under transition and it looks like process set to continue for a good amount of time. Their current squad is very weak and they don't have world class players, who can be compared to the likes of Kevin De Bruyne or Sergio Ramos.

Their talisman, Gianluigi Buffon has retired and their squad can't even be compared with their fellow European giants' squads. Spain and Germany have world class forwards like Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata, Marco Reus and Timo Werner whereas, Italy haven't got many players of such calibre.

The only players who are worth being compared to them are Lorenzo Insinge and Ciro Immobile. However, one of the main reasons for the lack of top quality players is that many of the players have rejected Italy, to instead represent the countries of their birth. Quite a few of the present superstars have been approached by Italy, only to be rejected.

Italy sits on the 20th spot in the FIFA rankings, finding themselves behind the likes of Mexico and Wales, countries which don't have a lot of stars. They are only marginally ahead of Peru and given the recent form of both the countries, they could slip behind Peru, as well.

However, Italy could have been in a much better position had, a few of the players accepted to play for them. These players could have saved Italy from embarrassment and possibly, helped them to qualify for the World Cup.

Now, we shall have a look at 4 players who could have represented Gli Azzurri.

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#4 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Aubameyang

The Gabonese international had the choice of representing 1 country from 4 countries! That is an option that most players (perhaps none) don't have. And the Arsenal star chose the least attractive of all the options, Gabon. Born in France, he played a friendly for France U21 before switching allegiance. He was invited to play for the Italy U19 team and could have played for Spain because he held Spanish Citizenship.

However, he chose Gabon because his father played for and captained Gabon. Currently, he is one of the best African players and has scored 24 times in 57 games for The Panthers.

#3 Edinson Cavani

Cavani playing against Italy

The Uruguayan star was eligible to play for Italy since he held an Italian passport, but snubbed advances from them. He is one of the best players to have ever played for Uruguay and has scored 45 goals in 105 matches for them. Currently, he plays for PSG and is a part of the one of the deadliest attacking trios in the world football.

#2 Mauro Icardi

Mauro Icardi

The Inter Milan superstar has made a name for himself as one of the best in the world. He is a prolific goal scorer at the club level but hasn't replicated the same form for his country. However, he has gotten only 5 chances for Argentina and was ousted from their World Cup, as well.

He had the opportunity to play for Italy but snubbed advances, saying that 'he thanks Italian Football for giving him the chance but that he is Argentine and wants to play for them'. However, he might not be feeling the same way now since, he hasn't gotten many opportunities.

Let's hope that he plays more often for Argentina and becomes an important part of their team.

#1 Paulo Dybala

Dybala

The Juventus forward had the luxury to pick from Poland, Italy or Argentina and he decided to represent the country of his birth. He gave the same reason that Icardi gave and stated that he has Argentine blood. Like Icardi, his opportunities with Argentina have been limited and have only played 14 games since, his debut in 2015.

Most of them have been substitution appearances and he managed to bag only one substitute appearance at the World Cup. He has been touted as Lionel Messi's replacement and it has been him who has obstructed Dybala's entry on to the international stage since, both of them play in the same position, which allows only one of them to play.